Wednesday, September 29, 2021
A4
OPINION
VOICE of the CHIEFTAIN
Rhetoric over
the vaccine
needs to stop
T
he people getting vaccinated
against COVID-19 are called
sheep. The people not getting
vaccinated against COVID-19 are
called anti-vaxxers.
Here’s an idea: quit with the rheto-
ric — on both sides.
It’s likely that neither statement
in the first sentence of this piece is
entirely true. Are there some indi-
viduals getting vaccinated who are
doing it simply because they always
do what they are told? Perhaps. Are
there some who aren’t getting the
vaccine who are full-on anti-vaxxers
who have never gotten a shot in their
life? Perhaps.
But labeling the entire group on
one side or the other as a sheep, anti-
vaxxer, or any other of your favor-
ite terms does not help. It’s, in fact,
dangerous and just further widens the
divide in this already split nation.
Many people who have gotten the
vaccine, in fact, are not sheep. They
are people who have looked at the
science behind the vaccine or behind
mRNA data from the last decade
or so and concluded it was the best
option for them.
For the older demographic of the
population, it makes a lot of sense
to take the jab. After all, in Oregon,
COVID-19 pre-vaccine had a mor-
tality rate of more than 20% in con-
firmed cases among those 80 and
older.
With the vaccine in place, the
overall mortality rate in that group
has dropped to less than 17%. Even
in instances of a breakthrough case,
where individuals get COVID-19
despite being vaccinated, the mortal-
ity rate in those 80 and above is just
over 6%.
For the immunocompromised,
those who want that layer of pro-
tection, or those who have talked to
their doctor and believe it’s the right
move for them, it also makes sense.
They should not be chided and
called sheep for doing so.
But in the same breath, nei-
ther should those who have not yet
received the vaccine. They have
concerns about vaccine side effects
(including long term), and may want
to research it more to see if those
concerns can be eased. Perhaps they
are on the fence and may get it in the
coming weeks, and believe they have
the freedom to make that decision in
their time. Perhaps they are younger,
and see a survival rate in their age
range of 99.966% (as it currently
stands for those 20-29 in Oregon)
and figure they will be fine.
If you want to encourage those in
that group to receive the shot, do so,
but don’t bash them over the head
with terms like anti-vaxxer that likely
are not true, especially of those who
are on the fence.
We’ve held, and continue to hold,
the position of encouraging you to do
your research, talk to a doctor, pray
if you need to, and then make a deci-
sion that is best for you as it pertains
to the vaccine.
We will get through this pandemic,
but not as country united if the rheto-
ric and blame game continues.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
I am in charge of my own
health
This is America ... land of the free.
I have a right to vaccinate or not, wear
a mask or not. Because I don’t put on
a mask or won’t subject myself to an
unproven vaccine does not mean that
I’m a bad person, nor am I guilty of any
wrongdoing.
If someone is concerned about getting
COVID or is compromised in any way,
they should wear a mask (if masks work),
social distance, get vaccinated. Take care
of yourself as necessary for you. Don’t
stipulate what I should do.
I’m not responsible for the general
public’s health, nor are they responsible
for mine.
Yes, the hospitals get crowded. It’s
not necessarily the available beds, but the
fact that there’s not enough staff. Once
the vaccine mandate is enforced, there is
a good possibility of a huge shortage of
hospital care staff. I stand behind those
that choose that route. No one should be
forced to take a vaccine as a requirement
for employment.
Our local economy has been devas-
tated with this mask mandate and social
distancing. Let the individual decide.
They can go into that business or not. It
is their choice. Don’t punish the busi-
nesses because they don’t mandate mask
wearing in their store: they should not be
“mask police.”
All we hear on the news is COVID,
COVID, COVID, supported by adver-
tising to get the vaccine. It’s odd to be
so inundated with “vaccine rah-rah-rah
advertising” when America’s COVID
death toll is actually smaller than that of
heart disease or cancer deaths.
According to news reports, COVID
has claimed approximately 600,000-
plus American lives. Of course, we need
to consider “presumed and confirmed”
COVID deaths. (cdc.gov)
“About 655,000 Americans die from
heart disease each year.” (aha.org)
“In 2020 there was 606,520 can-
cer deaths in the United States.” In 2021
the estimated cancer deaths are 608,570.
(cancer.org)
Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in
2020 was an estimated 93,331, including
69,710 involving opioids, according to
data released by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Am I supposed to interfere with peo-
ple’s lives to keep them from getting heart
disease? How about cancer? Should I run
roughshod over drug dealers?
Nope. Everyone should take care of
themselves.
Regarding masking and the COVID
vaccine … I am in charge of my health —
it’s my choice.
Lesley Neuman
Lostine
‘Please think of those
you care about, not just
yourself’
Protesters demand freedom from mask
and vaccine mandates, claiming personal
choice. For most medical decisions, I
would agree.
However, the coronavirus is highly
contagious and the anti-vax community
chooses to ignore this fact. When you
become infected, OK fine, that resulted
from a personal choice not to protect
yourself. But then you will likely infect
a few more people — who will it be?
Someone you live with? A child? Your
co-worker? Someone you sit behind in
church? Someone in line with you at the
grocery?
I am mystified by your version of
choice, which could rob others of their
choice to remain healthy. Please think of
those you care about, not just yourself.
By the way, Oregon and Washington
have consistently been in the top 10 states
for lowest incidences of coronavirus cases
as a percentage of population. Oregon is
currently fifth best. Our governors and
their expert advisers deserve credit.
Diane Alexander
Walla Walla, Washington
Sen. Wyden deserves
thanks for promoting River
Democracy Act
Sen. Ron Wyden deserves a big thank
you for initiating and guiding the River
Democracy Act through the winding
channels towards congressional approval.
As this drought and fire year has made
so clear, protecting our watersheds is fun-
damental to countering the effects of cli-
mate change and preserving and enhanc-
ing the capacity of our landscapes to
absorb, hold and release water and resist
fire.
Several streams I (and others) nomi-
nated are included in the act. I had hoped
even more watersheds would be pro-
tected, but from tiny acorns mighty oaks
grow, hey? As drought and fire persist
into the future and the indispensability
of even small waterways becomes ever
more evident and protections ever more
EDITORIALS: Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the Wallowa County Chieftain editorial board. Other
columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of
the Wallowa County Chieftain.
LETTERS: The Wallowa County Chieftain welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues
and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website. The newspaper reserves the
right to withhold letters that address concerns about individual services and products or letters that
prevalent, perhaps more private landown-
ers will see the advantages to themselves
and their neighbors.
The act, however, leaves too much
scope for irresponsible logging by
accommodating commercial sales under
the aegis of fire prevention. Too often the
Forest Service and Bureau of Land Man-
agement reveal their bias toward com-
mercial harvest over ecological recovery
by cutting large trees and fire-resistant
stands that have more environmental
than commercial value. Long-term eco-
logical values are subordinated to short-
term local economic gain. This needs to
change.
The same concern applies to over-
grazing livestock in riparian zones. Many
small- and medium-sized streams are
severely degraded by 125 years of cat-
tle grazing. That’s why more and more
streams are being enclosed by barbed
wire, to keep cows out. It would help
if the act recognized this fact and made
some practical gesture to address this
particular issue.
Despite the criticisms above, I, like so
many Oregonians, am thankful to Sen.
Wyden for the River Democracy Act.
Wally Sykes
Joseph
Be aware of charges on
Hancock land
People who camp and hunt on Han-
cock land need to be aware of the
changes. Camping on their land is no
longer free. You will be charged $35 to
$300 per night. They will be patrolling
the area to see where people are and
what they are doing. You will be told
to pay or leave. If you do not, they will
call the police and charge you with tres-
passing. If this happens you will be
banned from Hancock land for life.
Day use is still free. If people abuse
their new regulations they will close
their land to everyone.
My partner, Bill, has been camping
and hunting on Boise Cascade land for
over 50 years. I have been hunting and
camping with him for 10 years. Han-
cock clear cuts the land and this makes
the game move farther away.
Go to Hipcamp.com and search “Sled
Springs” on your computer, or call Eric
at 541-786-1119. People need to know
this.
Hazel Ortega
Wallowa
Editor’s note: A story explaining
the program referred to in this letter is
on Page A15.
infringe on the rights of private citizens. Letters must be signed by the author and include the city of
residence and a daytime phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will
not be published.
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VOLUME 134
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Phone: 541-426-4567 • Fax: 541-426-3921
Contents copyright © 2021. All rights reserved.
Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
General Manager, Karrine Brogoitti, kbrogoitti@lagrandeobserver.com
Editor, Ronald Bond, rbond@wallowa.com
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